The seminar theatre at last April’s Pilot Careers Live London
Pilot Careers Live at London Heathrow T5 opens at 0900 today, Saturday, 5 November. This is a great opportunity to pick the brains of the pilot training world and get your questions answered.
We’ve put together some simple tips to help you make the most of your day.
- Come for the full day. The event starts at 0900 and finishes at 1700. We have seminars in both the morning and afternoon sessions from our airline supporters – British Airways, easyJet and Loganair.
- If your ticket stipulates MORNING or AFTERNOON, that is referring to which airline seminar session you could attend*, but please plan to spend the full day with us.
- When not attending the airline seminars, not only can you visit the exhibitors, but also attend talks from some of our ATO Sponsors – FTE Jerez, Leading Edge Aviation and Skyborne Airline Academy; all of whom will share industry insights and their personal experiences.
*Seminar space is limited, and only Priority ticket holders have guaranteed access to the airline seminars. If spaces are available, they will be opened up to all ticket holders on a first-come first-serve basis. All ticket holders will receive a link to videos of the airline seminars after the event, so don’t worry, you won’t miss out.
For the full schedule, click here
Visit all the exhibitors
How often do you find 38 ATOs, universities and societies in one room? Not often is the answer, so take advantage of the fact that this Saturday is the day that happens!
Plan plenty of time into your day so that you can visit as many of them as possible. Don’t shortlist until you’ve met them all and challenge yourself to chat to some of the ones you hadn’t heard of, or just hadn’t caught your attention before. You never know, they could be the one for you!
And, if you’d only considered fixed wing previously, perhaps chat to the Helicopter training providers present, and vice versa! Challenge your thinking, so you can be sure you’re making the right decisions.
The full exhibitor list is here
Ask questions!
Prepare your questions in advance
It’s not often you get all these minds in one place on the same day. Know what you want to ask our exhibitors. Here’s ten for starters:
- The difference between the ATPL, MPL and CPL/IR (and the helicopter versions PPL(H), ATPL(H), CPL(H) etc)
- The difference between Modular and Integrated training routes
- Why do some airlines prefer the MPL?
- Which schools have direct links with airlines for graduate opportunities?
- How much does it cost? Is it an upfront payment or in instalments? What is included/excluded? Accommodation, food, CAA fees, retakes/resits, insurance, degree. What sort of refund would I get if things go wrong.
- Will the ATO run selection prior to you commencing training? It’s important you, and they, are sure you have what it takes before you invest your money
- Training record: what sort of pass marks are they achieving for the theory and the practical elements
- Wellbeing: what pastoral care does the school provide. How will the school help me if I struggle?
- What does the training and the job really involve? Study hours, lifestyle, risks, benefits, career opportunities.
- What top tips would the training organisations give to help you prepare for selection, training and the career? It would be great to ask current and past cadets these questions too – they are often on the exhibitor stands, so seek them out!
Create a matrix of answers: Don’t rely on memory. This is a big decision.
What will you come away with?
Aim to come away with a shortlist of options. Which schools did you prefer? Which licence / route is right for you? Then follow up with personal visits to the ATOs you’ve shortlisted, speak to others who’ve gone there, speak to the airlines if you can – find out what they think of the schools you are considering.
Most of all, enjoy your day. This is a great industry. Like many, it’s had a tough few years but it is a resilient industry and offers some of the greatest career opportunities in the world.
Travel arrangements
The Sofitel, Terminal 5 Heathrow is just off J14a of the M25. There’s plenty of underground parking at the hotel and you can also make use of Heathrow’s long stay car parks and shuttle buses.
Current information suggests that most TfL services, including most of the Tube, will continue to run. However, there will be some disruption where track is shared with Network Rail. Heathrow Terminal 5 is served by the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines.
